A Rapid Response Team has been formed by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security to deal with reports of abuse that may come in beyond normal working hours.
This is a designated team that will be on hand to respond to cases no matter the time of day, subject minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud explained on Saturday.
Speaking with the News Room following a press conference at the National Communications Network (NCN), Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown Minister Persaud explained: “At times, reports come in the evening and the way we work now is within the normal working hours.”
“That is where we will try to stretch our arms as far as Regions Three, Region Five,” Director of the Childcare Protection Agency Levine Gouveia shared.
For the pilot project, she said a vehicle has already been secured and that once an officer is available, he will be deployed immediately to conduct an emergency investigation or rescue.
The police, she explained, are not able to act immediately at times because there is no vehicle or female officer available.
“We understand what needs to be done,” she assured, as she noted how the police at times are unable to work a case immediately because of the lack of a vehicle or female childcare and protection officer.
Minister Persaud renewed her call for persons to use the 914 hotline in reporting cases. The hotline was launched in December 2020 in response to the significant decline in the reporting of violence and child abuse.
“Whenever there is a case…we must report it, even if it has nothing to do with us. Don’t turn a blind eye,” Dr Persaud had encouraged.
Another option is the iMatter app. Police officers have also been specially trained under the Cop Squad initiative on how to handle domestic violence cases, particularly when taking reports and dealing with victims.
